Opening a Mysterious Trade Route

Sanita and Salit left.

With Roland's financial backing, the Hidden Valley Clan chose to yield. They agreed to Leslie's terms and would send two thousand high-ranking priests to Roland's territory to follow his orders.

Of course, all of this was carried out in secret. The smuggling between the Hidden Valley Clan and Roland could still be described as pursuing profit, but sending two thousand high-ranking priests into Roland's territory to obey a human's commands was undoubtedly a betrayal of their race. If the Behemoth Royal Family learned of it, the Hidden Valley Clan would likely have no choice but to abandon their territory and fully submit to Roland.

After settling the matter with the Hidden Valley Clan, Roland still had little time to rest. He immediately began making full preparations for his meeting with Zarick.

After returning to his territory and learning that the Black Dragon clan had betrayed the Dragon race and joined the Northern Kingdom, he had immediately contacted Zarick through the Dragon Scale, hoping to use him to open a smuggling route to the demons of hell.

Before this, Roland might not have needed to rush so urgently, but now he truly had no choice.

Whether it was repairing Sky City or forging Boulder Golems and Giant Magic Cannon Golems afterward, all of it required enormous quantities of adamantine and Mithril—nearly several tons every year.

Combined with the territory's own needs, the Beastkin Empire alone could no longer meet its demands. Roland urgently needed a new source of resources.

Adamantine and Mithril, known as rare metals, were often traded by the gram. With an annual demand of several tons, almost no one on the entire Saint Nor Continent could satisfy Roland's needs. Even top-tier empires such as the elves, the Arcane Empire, and the Holy Alliance could